Tag: glacier

  • Mt. Brown Raptor Count

    Mt. Brown Raptor Count

    —

    by

    Jake Bramante

    I’ve really been enjoying the raptor counts in Glacier National Park. It’s always exciting to see loads of raptors and the company has been great. With Going-to-the-Sun Road being closed at Avalanche Creek, Swiftcurrent Pass was out. The weather precluded us from going on Tuesday, but with a good forecast for Wednesday, I put out…

  • Lee Ridge & Slide Lake Pika Survey

    Lee Ridge & Slide Lake Pika Survey

    —

    by

    Jake Bramante

    Folks from the Glacier’s Citizen Science Program relayed to me how they were thwarted in their latest attempt to get four last pika surveys done by the amazing limestone boulder fields just below Gable Pass and at Slide Lake in Glacier National Park. I looked at my schedule and took the opportunity to head on up for…

  • Swiftcurrent Raptor Count Part 2

    Swiftcurrent Raptor Count Part 2

    —

    by

    Jake Bramante

    Two weeks had past from my first raptor count when I found myself driving back up to Glacier National Park to do another raptor migration count. While the first trip in late September was a bluebird fall day, we only counted 25 birds. This day in early October was much more dynamic. The clouds were…

  • Jewel Basin Hiking Area

    Jewel Basin Hiking Area

    —

    by

    Jake Bramante

    Along the beautiful Swan Mountains that form the eastern border of the Flathead Valley, there is a great designated hiking area called the Jewel Basin, or “The Jewel” as it’s known to us locals. This network of trails is reached via a dirt road that climbs up into the alpine making the hiking rewarding almost…

  • September Raptor Count

    September Raptor Count

    —

    by

    Jake Bramante

    On a crisp morning, late in September, I rolled up to the humble building housing the fine folks that run the Citizen Science program in Glacier. We were heading on up to Swiftcurrent Pass for the annual raptor count during the fall raptor migration that starts in September and continues into November. As if I needed…

  • Floral Park Traverse

    Floral Park Traverse

    —

    by

    Jake Bramante

    The Floral Park Traverse is probably the most well known traverse in Glacier National Park, but it’s not for the lazy or unexperienced. Gaining over 4,000 ft of elevation and descending more than 7,000 over 19 miles is well worth the views if you can find the route. Below is the video of our day…

  • Ptarmigan Tunnel to Redgap Pass Goat Traverse

    Ptarmigan Tunnel to Redgap Pass Goat Traverse

    —

    by

    Jake Bramante

    The iconic Ptarmigan Tunnel in Many Glacier is a popular day hike. The tunnel is also frequently used by backpackers descending and ascending into the Belly River drainage which is often paired with Redgap Pass to make a loop. For those interested in connecting these two features without losing the elevation via trail, an off-trail…

  • Climbing Mt. Grinnell

    Climbing Mt. Grinnell

    —

    by

    Jake Bramante

    Mt. Grinnell stands tall between two incredible drainages in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. While not on the Garden Wall, the easiest way to access it is from the Lake McDonald side via the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. I did so with my wife, Kristen, and my buddy Blake Passmore of Climb Glacier…

  • Pitamakan Dawson 2014

    Pitamakan Dawson 2014

    —

    by

    Jake Bramante

    The loop in Glacier National Park that travels through both Pitamakan Pass and Dawson Pass is one of my favorites, if not my very favorite. One is almost guaranteed to see big game, gorgeous lakes, four separate drainages and a ridge walk that’s unparalleled in the Park. The excuse was a mountain goat survey, as…